Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has warned that the state authorities will now not tolerate the destruction of crops and farmlands by herdsmen working within the state.
Governor Oyebanji who decried that some farmlands closely invested on by the federal government, significantly in Ikole native authorities space of the state are being destroyed by herders, referred to as for the intervention of conventional rulers within the space.
Oyebanji gave the warning on the weekend in Ikole Ekiti throughout the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Authorities and Ekiti State Authorities to transform and improve the Ikole Ekiti Specialist Hospital, Ikole Ekiti right into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
The governor additionally cleared the air and allayed the fears of indigenes and folks of Ikole Ekiti on the absence of their conventional ruler, the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku from the throne, saying the monarch took permission from him and that he’s hale and hearty.
Oyebanji who said that the herders can be supplied with the place to maintain and graze their herds, appealed to the standard rulers to name them to order whereas threatening that the federal government will go after them if the state of affairs continues.
In keeping with the governor, “One factor that retards the event of this native authorities is insecurity. Now we’ve buyers working in Oke-Ako, Iyemero. They’ve cleared lands. Regent, you’re conscious of this. Our kids have gone to plant crops, and I heard now that the herders are troubling them.
“I’m interesting to our conventional rulers to hitch arms with us. It won’t be good for us to make use of humongous quantity of morning for farming function and to mobilise our kids to farm on these lands and plant crops, on the level of reaping, some individuals will convey their cows to feast on the farms and destroy the crops planted.
“The rationale why I’m talking publicly right here right this moment is to ship a message to them by our conventional rulers. We’re going to go after them, and once we begin, no person ought to come to me and beg on their behalf.
“Our royal fathers ought to name these of their communities, we’re not towards their enterprise, however they shouldn’t go towards our personal enterprise too, as a result of anyone that’s caught, I’m not going to take heed to any plea from any royal father.
“We’re going to present for them the place they are going to be grazing their herds and so they stay there. I’ve given them two weeks to get a spot for them and they’re going to take them there and they need to stay there and anybody amongst them who leaves the place no matter occurs, he’ll take it.
“However I’m interesting to you our royal fathers, please, assist name them and inform them. As a result of, we can not mobilise our kids to go and be working within the farm and on the level of harvest, the herds can be dropped at eat their crops and destroy their farmlands.
“What we’re doing in Ekiti is that, this difficulty of starvation and meals inflation. We will not expertise it subsequent 12 months; that’s the reason we’re investing in farming now. In order that no matter we develop right here, we are able to purchase from the farmers and retailer them and launch them subsequent 12 months to the market so the costs of meals merchandise will go down”.
Stressing the significance of farming, he mentioned, “If we don’t farm, and proceed crying of starvation until subsequent 12 months, there can be no meals to eat and the costs of meals will proceed to go up. So if some younger guys, girls and a few Ekiti indigenes have now agreed to accomplice with the state authorities to enter farming, it’s our accountability to guard them. And I do know that with the help of all our fathers seated right here, the royal fathers, we are able to do that collectively”.
Oyebanji whereas talking on the safety state of affairs within the space mentioned, “It’s on this native authorities that some gunmen shot and killed two conventional rulers, we should not enable such to occur once more. However it appears as if we’ve forgotten that and we’re enjoyable.
“So, I’m difficult our royal fathers right this moment. If I see you behind me and I’ve your cooperation. I’m pleading with you as a result of most of those herders are near a few of you. Assist beg them that we’re not saying they shouldn’t graze their herds, however they need to not graze them to the place they may eat farm crops and destroy farmlands and they need to be working throughout the space the federal government will present for them”.
On the absence of Oba Fasiku from the throne, the governor mentioned, “We have to inform everybody right here that the state authorities is conscious of the whereabouts of Elekole.
“Kabiyesi took permission from the state authorities earlier than he travels, and we’re in fixed contact with him. So, Kabiyesi is hale and hearty and we’re in solidarity with him. I have to say that right here right this moment. Earlier than he left the throne, he wrote to me and I authorised his travels and I’m conscious of the place he’s and he’s properly. By the facility of God, he’ll come again in peace.”
